CHAPTER FOUR:
( best friends! )

▂✫⌒*･ﾟ

             VENUS MADE HER FRIENDS go to the Great Hall without her first thing in the morning. Occasionally, she will pop her head inside to check if majority of the students are placed there. When she is sure that most of them began eating and sat down in their tables, Venus marches inside the Great Hall with full confidence. Raising her wand up, a whole bunch of streaming fireworks goes off from the tip. The bright emitting lights creates unique works of wondrous designs (she could have sworn she notice clown heads showing up over Snape and a few other Death Eaters). Venus stands in front of the entrance with a grin on her lips as she notices the students gasp in awe and laugh to themselves. Her own smile vanishes from her face when two figures darkly stand in front.

             Fuck, she curses in her head, her lips pursed thinly. The woman grabs her arm tightly and raises it up. "What is your name, Miss Gryffindor?" Alecto Carrow sneers deeply.

             Venus swallows her spiteful remarks and clenches her jaw. "Venus Thomas, ma'am," she replies. The young girl forces herself to stare right at the woman's eyes despite the sudden urge to flee and never return. She feels her arm come up with a bruise by how tightly she is holding it.

             "Thomas," the woman repeats with a thoughtful expression. A familiar recognition passes through her face. "Didn't your father run away from the Ministry?"

             She calmly takes a deep breath and raises an eyebrow. "He did not run, ma'am. He resigned simply because he has gotten older," Venus answers vaguely. Okay, a small lie, but they do not know that. Her father is getting old, but still manageable if he truly wants to work.

             "And your mother? What is she?" Alecto continues asking, eyeing her with pure disgust. Not even 'who', but rather what. That is undeniably prejudice of her. Venus knows this school year would absolutely suck and this gives her full confirmation.

             "My mother is a squib," Venus replies bitterly. "For some reason the magic from both her parents did not pass on to her. Surely, that is not a crime, is it?"

             The man, Amycus, appears right beside his sister with the same dark expression. "You are the culprit?"

             Venus straightens her back— she could still hear the laughter of some kids and worries from the older ones. "Yes," Venus confesses truthfully.

             Before the Carrow siblings could say anything else, Professor McGonagall comes stomping her way to them with a firm stare. "Miss Thomas! I expected better coming from you! Detention tomorrow night!" Her head of house exclaims in a strict matter. The Carrows glares at the young girl before deciding she is not worth their time.

             When they left, Venus releases a small breath of relief and sends a smile to McGonagall. "Sorry, Professor," she apologizes quietly.

             The older woman softens her gaze and places her hand on her shoulder. "Venus, I know what you're trying to do, but I don't want to see you hurt," McGonagall sighs with a troubled tone. "Promise me you won't be so reckless?"

             Venus grimaces at her words. "Professor, you know that I have tremendous respect for you and adore you, but I cannot promise that," she founds herself saying honestly. "I know what I'm getting myself into."

             Tears gather up in the elder woman's face for a few seconds before she nods understandably. "You are truly brave, Venus. I just wish you would not have to do it this way."

             The young girl sighs to herself when her favorite professor wanders back to the large table. Noticing the urge in her friend's face, Venus heads toward her immediately and gives her half a smile. "Did you like it?"

             "That was incredibly dangerous, V!" Lizette whisper-yells, giving a sharp motherly look. That is the thing about her best friend; she takes the part in being the mother role in their small friend group. Venus loves her for that reason, but she also knows that if her cousin were with her, he would have given her a high five. Sure, he would have also been concerned but that takes part later.

             She shrugs nonchalantly. "Yeah, but did you hear those laughs? They're so adorable!"

             Lizette rubs her temples in exhaustion before handing her a timetable that had the name Venus Thomas in it. Her nose scrunches up at the reminder of having classes. She bites her lip curiously while noting the schedule for what she is to have in her last year at Hogwarts. Although, the auburn-haired girl is taking six classes, Venus finds herself taking only five of them: Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology, Defense— Dark Arts, and... Muggle Studies? She would have thought they would take Muggle Studies out of the curriculum, but to her surprise it is still there.

             Venus does not like how reading the words made her flesh crawl in sudden unsettlement. It does not sit right with her taking the class without Professor Burbage to ramble wondrously about muggles being fascinating. A full witch finding herself completely divined with the wonders of the world— now she is most likely dead. She hears Seamus and Lizette conversing with one another, but she does not join in... having taken a glimpse at Lizette's, she surprises herself by noticing that the auburn-haired girl is taking it as well. Quite frankly, that is odd since Lizette never even took Muggle Studies so why is she taking it now?

             "Hey, Liz," Venus finds herself calling out softly. Lizette stops her conversation shortly with Seamus as she raises an eyebrow curiously. Raising up both of their timetables, she notices that they all have similar class (which makes sense since many students were not attending). "Why are you taking Muggle Studies?"

             Lizette slowly began frowning and stares at her sadly. Her lips form into a pout right when her brows furrow to show her unsettledness. "V, everyone has to take Muggle Studies. You came late to breakfast, but they went over how this class and Defense— I mean, Dark Arts is mandatory," she explains in a low whisper, biting her bottom lip nervously.

             Venus narrows her eyes suspiciously, crumbling the paper while her hand turns into a fist. She does not shred it since her mind would definitely not remember the order of her classes. Mondays and Thursdays she had Transfiguration for her first class, Charms for second, and Muggle Studies last. Tuesdays and Fridays is when she thankfully had two— Herbology and Dark Arts. Wednesdays is when she is completely free.

             "I don't have Charms," Lizette changes the topic making Venus look back at her timetable. She is right. Instead of Charms, Potions is visible in the girl's place. Venus purses her lips before nodding in acceptance. Thankfully, Seamus does have Charms which means she still gets him. Tiberius being the most intelligent one most likely has both of them. Lizette had the option of taking both, but she did not want to take Charms. Venus takes a huge bite of whatever food is left before the bell rang to make everyone head to their own path. Right away, Tiberius walks beside Venus with his breath uneven and his eyes nervously glancing around as if he would get attacked.

             "What you did was so cool," Tiberius whispers, letting his arm tangle around hers. Venus smiles widely and lets it rest on her face. She gives a look to Lizette who only sighs in agreement and worry.

             Seamus grimaces slightly. "How the hell did you even pull a Weasley?"

             While the four of them enter Mcgonagall's classroom, Venus sits beside Lizette while the two boys with each other. She turns around noticing class has not started and answers, "I'd never pull a Weasley— they are far better masterminds, but it's an easy spell."

             Tiberius rolls his eyes and flashes her a sweet grin. "Right, I'm sure it was an 'easy spell'," he mocks, doing air quotes in a way Venus definitely did not think belong. She opens her mouth to comments but her attention diverts from him to the brooding Slytherin tiredly strolling in. Her smile widens and she practically jumps out of her seat when she yells, "Hey, Blaise!"

             Zabini makes a face between annoyance and confusion before his eyes fell on her jittery figure. He sticks with the displeasure expression instead and sneers, "No."

             Venus continues smiling like if she did not hear what he said and nods instead. "Look at us being—" she begins saying far loud than it should have been.

             "Alright, class—"

             "—best friends already!" Venus finishes, embarrassment creeping in when she realizes that Professor McGonagall has begun speaking. She starts slumping in her seat, but does not dare and hide her face despite the redness forming in her cheeks (she has more melanin in her skin so it isn't that noticeable). Instead, Venus simply gives her favorite professor an innocent smile. "Sorry, Professor," she apologizes for the second time this day.

             Professor McGonagall gives her a strict look. "Inside voices, Miss Thomas. Your new profound friendship with Mr. Zabini can wait until later," the elder woman warns firmly. While Zabini scrunches up his nose clearly insulted by her words, Venus nods in agreement.

             "You're right, ma'am," she agrees. A couple of students began chuckling in amusement before it dials down when Professor McGonagall begins her lesson without interruptions. Venus, although making jokes now and then, listens closely to her words knowing this year would have their NEWT exams coming up and well, she needs to pass them to graduate. It barely knock some sense into her that Hermione Granger no longer would be raising her hand and shooting up the answers because she is not there. And Harry Potter has not gotten some crazy event happen to him or some announcement of death.

             With her lips being place in a thin line, she furrows her eyebrows in thought. Venus would not categorize herself best friends with the infamous trio— maybe acquaintances the least. Either way, it does not mean she does not care about them any less. No, never less, she thinks to herself. Venus Thomas is a person who cares too much than she should. This disappoints her when a person thinks of themselves as unworthy or somehow ends up getting hurt. Fourth year is the greatest example of that. Before the Triwizard Tournament began, Venus did not talk to Cedric Diggory. She had some encounters with him because he had been prefect, but nothing much except her smiling gracefully as he let her pass without getting detention. When he had been chosen as Hogwarts candidate (along with Harry), she supported him too and even just the slightest conversation with her guarantees a sense of adoration of others to her.

             When he died, that hurt tremendously. So, yes, she knows caring too much is absolutely horrible to her, but if it makes people feel loved then that is okay, right?

             "—Venus?" Professor McGonagall sighs (has anyone counted how many times she has done this?). Her eyebrow raising clearly hoping Venus would answer whatever question or statement she just said.

             Oops?

             Venus glances at the board behind her noticing the forms of humans turning into animals. "Uh— an animagus are wizards who can transform themselves into animals by will. It requires a whole ton of steps...?" She blurts out, not even knowing if this was the topic being said.

             The class quietly snicker among themselves and while she definitely did not do it on purpose, at least they laughed? Professor McGonagall narrows her eyes for a few seconds before telling her, "I just asked if you were paying attention, Miss Thomas."

             "Oh!" Venus exclaims surprised, but she covers it up right away. "I knew that."

             Fortunately, Transfiguration finished not too long after that scenario which led Venus to have some time off before Charms. Usually, she would be in the Great Hall trying to do something random, but not wanting to face Snape as Headmaster and the stupid Carrows, Venus lays her head on Seamus's lap while throwing up a rolled up paper up in the air.

             "Shouldn't we do homework?" Tiberius quietly questions, his legs crossed while sitting beside Lizette. Despite him being a Hufflepuff, the rest of the Gryffindor students (the older ones) are used to him coming up to the dormitory. It is not like there is some law stating other students could not get inside— right? Actually, Venus does not know, but she also does not care.

             Venus lets the paper hit her face and she makes a face. "Ty, we're not scholars," she smacks the paper away and accidentally hits Seamus's arm. The older boy raises his eyebrows and simply rolls his eyes at her small apologetic glance.

             "I did it already," Lizette glares at Venus, holding up her homework for Transfiguration.

             The Thomas girl blinks numerous times in confusion. "What the fuck? When?"

             Lizette mimics her expression. "Right when we got here! You probably took a small nap on Seamus's lap," she answers slowly.

             Seamus snorts in amusement, stretching his legs out when Venus finally sits up normally. "I definitely heard something that sounded like snores," he teases.

             Venus gasps in great betrayal. "I do not snore!" Her attention diverts to the young redhead that enters quietly. "Right, Ginny?"

             Ginny Weasley, the youngest of the Weasley bunch, tilts her head with a puzzled expression. She heard the last few sentences from the group of seventh-years. "Venus, I don't hear you snore..." Ginny starts off unsurely.

             The curly-haired girl gives her a grin. "See! She agrees!"

             "—because I don't share a dorm with you," Ginny finishes, her lips slightly tilted up from one side. Venus notices how a crestfallen expression is on her face clearly not wanting to be in school and most likely with Harry, her ex-boyfriend, and her brother. She could not help but pity the young girl, but knowing how spirited Ginny Weasley is, she does not comment on that. She figures treating her normally would lessen the sudden tension in her system.

             "Details, my friend, details," Venus waves off uncaringly.

             Unfortunately, since Lizette does not take Charms, the young girl let her two guy friends sit beside each other (and Seamus sat beside Neville) while she sits next to Tiberius and an empty seat next to her. However, since the class is practically only a few students, Professor Flitwick continues organizing the students close to another (seeing as he is a shorter wizard than average and wants to have some control). To her surprise, the same Slytherin from her first class enters the room and upon noticing her figure closes his eyes in simple regret.

             And Venus would just wave it off as usual, but then when Professor Flitwick told him to sit right beside her she quickly came up with the idea that Professor McGonagall told him of her 'friendship' with a Slytherin. Zabini scowls in annoyance while he trudges his way beside her and even makes a point in letting his hard-covered book smack the table. A few students jump in surprise and Venus arches an eyebrow at him.

             "Ah, feisty," she winks horribly after the words escape her mouth. The boy beside her ignores her and stares at the door just when Pansy Parkinson comes with a glare hotter than lava being directed at Blaise (or at least that is what Venus is assuming). Arriving behind her is Draco Malfoy appearing clearly uncomfortable with all the glares given to him from every house except Slytherin (and her). The two Slytherins sit beside Zabini (in the order of Zabini, Parkinson, and then Malfoy).

             "You wanna hear a joke?" Venus whispers to Zabini, noticing that Professor Flitwick is preparing to start his lesson. While the tall Slytherin ignores her, Parkinson shoots her an odd glare. She gives her a smile in acknowledgement before turning her attention back to Zabini. "Why can't you trust the king of the jungle?"

             "I don't care," Zabini finally speaks up.

             Venus ignores his words and repeats, "Why can't you trust the king of the jungle?"

             Parkinson whispers something incoherent to Malfoy who simply shrugs. Then, she turns to the Gryffindor and with an exasperated tone questions, "Why?" It is clear to Venus that she is only doing it to get her to shut up. She stays quiet for a few seconds, her eyes scanning the girl's face before staring back at Zabini in time to see him roll his eyes.

             However, she then giggles out, "Because he's always lion." Venus covers her mouth and ends up laughing at the disbelief in Parkinson's face.

             "You are so... strange," Parkinson sighs, leaning back on her seat with her eyebrows furrowed.

             "Are you always this annoying?" Zabini hisses quietly, his dark eyes boring right into Venus's. She internally rolls her eyes (did he think she finds it insulting?) and smirks visibly.

             "You love it," she comments easily.

             Zabini scoffs. "I don't," he responds sassily.

             Venus grins with a knowing expression on her face. There is something about his mechanism that is telling her otherwise. "Maybe not, but you will. Mark my words, Blaise," she points at her brain smartly before listening in to Professor Flitwick.

             Noticing his blank expression, when Professor Flitwick turned his back on them, she quickly leans toward him and whispers dramatically, "Denying thee truth of who is the best of your friends— me, obviously— will not help at all. Accept your fate or face my wrath."

             "If I accept will you leave me alone?"

             Venus gasps and then shakes her head. "Definitely not!"

             Zabini glares at her. "Then, no."

             "Spencer would be so disappointed in how you're treating me," Venus sniffles. The Slytherin sends her an odd look.

             "Who's Spencer?" He repeats the name incredulously. Venus thinks over the name before shrugging. "I don't know, I just made it up and hoped you knew something named Spencer," she answers honestly.

             A slow grin begins to form on her lips. "See, you're already responding back to me!"

             After those words, Zabini kept his mouth shut knowing he is only keeping her in her toes. With all the jokes being done in a short amount of time, Venus momentarily forgot that there is a class she will have to attend— and when she finally does remember, her stomach somehow shifts uncomfortably already feeling a cold shiver of fear.

             Well, shit, she thinks to herself when Charms is finally over.

▂✫⌒*･ﾟ

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
okay i had to cut it before she
actually attends muggle studies
cause it was kinda uplifting at the
end and i would feel bad for
ruining it for u guys :)

also, barely decided that my blaise fic
and this story will not connect to each
other even tho they definitely could have
but i did mention spencer like some easter egg 😌✨